ASP Annual Conference will take place 4-7 July 2022 at the Shangri-La Hotel, Cairns. The land on which this meeting takes place was originally the home of the Yirrganydji people-an indigenous rainforest and coastal culture belonging to the Djabugay language group of Far North Queensland. Yirrganydji territory comprised the coastal strip of land between the areas now known as Cairns and Port Douglas, including Freshwater Creek and the Barron River. The ASP acknowledge the Gimuy-walubarra yidi (pronounced) ghee-moy-wah-la-burra are the traditional custodians of the Cairns and surrounding district. Gimuy is the traditional place name for the area Cairns City now occupies. Gimuy being the Yidiny name of the slippery blue fig (ficus albipila) that grew in large number in this area. Walu being the Yidiny name for side of the hill and barra meaning people belonging to. The ASP recognise their continuing connection to the land and waters, and thank them for protecting this coastline and its ecosystems since time immemorial. The ASP pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all First Nations people present at this meeting.
The Conference will open on Monday July 4, 2022, 5pm with a Welcome Reception BBQ dinner in the Backyard at Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns sponsored by Virbac. Poster night will take place on Tuesday July 5, 2022, at Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns and the Conference dinner will take place on the last evening of the program, Thursday July 7, 2022, at Hemingway’s Brewery Cairns Wharf sponsored by Vetoquinol. Hemingway’s is walking distance from the conference venue. Early Career Researchers are invited to a breakfast event on the first morning, Tuesday July 5.